Grimace debuted in 1971 as a large purple character in McDonald’s McDonaldland advertising.
The character’s early design was different from the simple, friendly figure most people recognize today. Originally, Grimace had multiple arms and was associated with stealing milkshakes. McDonald’s later simplified the design and repositioned Grimace as a cheerful, child-friendly companion.
Unlike the Hamburglar, Grimace was not defined by a specific sandwich. His branding role was more general: he helped create a memorable cast of characters around the McDonald’s restaurant experience.
The 1971 debut is also why Grimace belongs to the first major wave of McDonaldland characters. Birdie the Early Bird appeared later, in 1980, so she should not be substituted for Grimace when identifying the original 1971 character group.